Ranker NFLList RulesVote up the top pro football players born or raised in North Carolina
Here's a list of the best NFL players from North Carolina! Whether they're from Charlotte, Raleigh, or even Greensboro, football players from North Carolina have left their stamp on the NFL. Even some of the players from the Tar Heel state who aren't in the Hall of Fame yet have proven to be some of the best football players of all time.
Vote for who you think are the top NFL players from North Carolina and add any of your favorites missing from the list!
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Wilson, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive end
Age: 41
Teams: North Carolina Tar Heels football, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers
Julius Frazier Peppers (born January 18, 1980) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at North Carolina, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was... more2
Gibsonville, North CarolinaAge: 45
Teams: NC State Wolfpack football, St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars
Torry Jabar Holt (born June 5, 1976) is a former professional American football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He was named to the Pro Bowl... more3
Greensboro, North CarolinaPosition: Wide receiver
Age: 29
Teams: Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Alexander Allen (born April 27, 1992) is an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California... more4
Goldsboro, North CarolinaPosition: Tight end
Age: 34
Teams: Chicago Bears
Jimmy Graham (born November 24, 1986) is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played only one year of college football at Miami, after... more5
Shelby, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive end, Linebacker, Defensive lineman
Age: 81
Bobby Lee Bell Sr (born June 17, 1940) is a former professional American football linebacker and defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and... more6
Charlotte, North CarolinaJaire Zakar Alexander is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisville, and was drafted by the Packers in... more7
Richlands, North CarolinaPosition: Outside Linebacker, Defensive end
Age: 36
Teams: NC State Wolfpack football, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans
Mario Jerrel Williams (born January 31, 1985) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for North Carolina State University, and was selected first overall by the... more8
Bunn, North CarolinaPosition: Running back
Age: 26
Teams: Chicago Bears
Tarik Cohen (born July 26, 1995) is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Cohen played the same position for North Carolina Agricultural &... more9
Kinston, North CarolinaPosition: Tight end, Wide receiver
Age: 64
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Clemson Tigers football
Dwight Edward Clark (January 8, 1957 – June 4, 2018) was an American football wide receiver and executive. He played nine seasons for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL)... more10
Raleigh, North CarolinaPosition: Tackle, Guard, Center
Age: 60
Teams: Tennessee Titans
Bruce Rankin Matthews (born August 8, 1961) is a former American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, from 1983 to 2001. He spent his entire... more11
Cherryville, North CarolinaPosition: Safety, Defensive back
Age: Dec. at 61 (1948-2010)
Teams: Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, Ohio State Buckeyes football
John David Tatum (November 18, 1948 – July 27, 2010) was an American football safety who played 10 seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football... more12
Murfreesboro, North CarolinaPosition: Center
Age: 63
Dwight Eugene Stephenson (born November 20, 1957) is a former professional American football player. He was a center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1987. He... more13
Clinton, North CarolinaPosition: Running back
Age: 40
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, North Carolina Tar Heels football
William Everett Parker Jr. (born November 11, 1980) is a former American football running back who played for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). After... more14
Wilmington, North CarolinaPosition: Quarterback
Age: 87
Teams: Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles
Christian Adolph Jurgensen III (born August 23, 1934), known better as Sonny Jurgensen, is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and... more15
High Point, North CarolinaPosition: Safety
Age: 42
Teams: NC State Wolfpack football, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots
Adrian Lemar Wilson (born on October 12, 1979) is a former American football safety. He played college football at NC State, and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2001... more16
Winston-Salem, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive tackle, Tackle
Age: 53
Ray Mitchell Agnew, Jr. (born December 9, 1967) is a former American football executive and former player who is the director of pro personnel for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League... more17
Winston-Salem, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive end, Defensive lineman
Age: 79
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings
Carl Eller (born January 25, 1942) is a former professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL) who played from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North... more18
Harrisburg, North CarolinaPosition: Running back
Age: 49
Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers
Natrone Jermaine Means (born April 26, 1972) is a former professional American Football running back who played for the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers of the NFL from... more19
Hamlet, North CarolinaPosition: Wide receiver
Age: 62
Michael Anthony Quick (born May 14, 1959) is a former American football wide receiver. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles for nine seasons,... more20
Greensboro, North CarolinaPosition: Wide receiver
Age: 56
Haywood Franklin Jeffires (pronounced "Jeffries"; born December 12, 1964) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round (20th overall) of... more21
Tarboro, North CarolinaPosition: Wide receiver
Age: 52
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers
Yancey Dirk Thigpen (born August 15, 1969) is a former professional American football wide receiver who played for the San Diego Chargers (1991), the Pittsburgh Steelers (1992–1997), and the... more22
Havelock, North CarolinaPosition: Linebacker
Age: 33
Teams: Dallas Cowboys
Bruce Edward Carter (born February 19, 1988) is an American football linebacker that is currently a free agent of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the... more23
Asheville, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive end
Age: 47
Teams: St. Louis Rams
Leonard Antonio Little (born October 19, 1974) is a former American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Little played college football for the... more24
Wilmington, North CarolinaPosition: Quarterback
Age: 81
Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles
Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Jr. (born August 5, 1940) is a former American football player. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) as a quarterback and is considered by many fans to... more25
Fayettevill, North CarolinaPosition: Cornerback, Defensive back
Age: 37
Teams: Samford Bulldogs, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans
Cortland Temujin Finnegan (born February 2, 1984) is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Samford, and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the... more
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